Elder Tree
The elder had wonderful influence as a protection against evil. Wherever it grew, witches were powerless. In this country, gardens were protected by having elder trees planted at the entrance, and sometimes hedges of this plant were trained round the garden. There are very few old gardens in country places in which are not still seen remains of the protecting elder tree. "In my boyhood" says Napier, " I remember that my brothers, sisters, and myself were warned against breaking a twig or branch from the elder hedge which surrounded my grandfather's garden. We were told at the time as a reason for this prohibition, that it was poisonous; but we discovered afterwards that there was another reason, viz., that it was unlucky to break off even a small twig from a bourtree bush." In some parts of the Continent this superstition feeling is so strong that, before pruning it, the gardener says: Elder, elder, may I cut thy branches?" If no response be heard, it is considered that assent has been given and then, after spitting three times, the pruner begins his cutting. According to Montanus, elder wood formed a portion of the fuel used in the burning of human bodies as a protection against evil influences; and, the drivers of hearses had their whip handles made of elder wood for a similar reason. In some parts of Scotland, people would not put a piece of elder wood into the fire, and Napier says Pieces of this wood lying about unused when the neighbourhood was in great straits for firewood; but none would use it, and when asked why? the answer was: "We don't know, but folks say it is not lucky to burn the bourtree." It was believed that children laid in a cradle made wholly or in part of elderwood, would not sleep well, and were in danger of falling out of the cradle. Elder berries gathered on St. John's Eve, would prevent the possessor suffering from witchcraft, and often bestowed upon him magical powers. If the elder were planted in the form of a cross upon a new-made grave, and if it bloomed, it was a sure sign that the soul of the dead person was happy. 66